San Mateo County Crisis Call Center
Do You or Someone You Know Need Help?
About the Call Center
When someone in San Mateo County is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, the San Mateo County Crisis Call Center provides a direct line to professional, compassionate help. Referrals can be called into the San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Call Center 24/7 at 650-579-0350. Telecare connects with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and 911.
Our call center is staffed by licensed and licensed-eligible clinicians who are specially trained in crisis assessment, de-escalation, and motivational interviewing. We are here to help individuals find stability, connect with care, and regain a sense of safety without unnecessary law enforcement involvement. If the San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) is deployed, our mobile team of clinicians and peer specialists will come to you, wherever you are in the community.
The San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team delivers much-needed crisis care in San Mateo County — in a safe, accessible, and compassionate way. We help people get the support they need, reduce stigma and fear, and help prevent and reduce unnecessary law enforcement involvement, ER visits, and hospitalizations.
What to Expect
The San Mateo County Crisis Call Center is a first point of contact for anyone in the community seeking behavioral health crisis support. A clinician will provide an individualized assessment and work with you every step of the way to help resolve your current crisis and connect you with appropriate resources.
Our clinicians provide:
A Personal Connection: Within the first few minutes, you’ll speak with a compassionate clinician who listens and provides support.
Real-Time Assessment: We evaluate your situation to ensure safety and explore options for ongoing care.
Swift Response: Calls are answered 24/7 from individuals, families, and providers seeking help.
Immediate Emotional Support
Informed Decisions: When services are needed, clinicians can access county health records to ensure care is informed and aligned.
Care Coordination: Connection with the San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) when in-person support is needed.
We provide a safe, respectful environment where individuals can receive immediate, personalized assistance and a compassionate presence to stabilize symptoms, avoid higher levels of care when possible, and receive referrals to community-based resources.e crisis triage, screening, assessment, in-person crisis intervention and stabilization, and linkage to ongoing support. If clinically indicated, we will also provide transportation for people to county-designated behavioral health sites for further assessment, evaluation, and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How the Call Center Connects with MCRT
The Call Center works directly with the San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), a mobile crisis response program made up of mental health professionals who deliver rapid, in-person crisis support throughout the community.
MCRT services include crisis triage, screening, assessment, in-person crisis intervention and stabilization, and linkage to ongoing support. When clinically indicated, the team can also provide transportation to county-designated behavioral health sites for further assessment, evaluation, and treatment.
Mobile Crisis Response Team Details
What We Do: San Mateo MCRT is a mobile crisis response program. The team of mental health professionals delivers rapid crisis support to people out in the community. Their services include crisis triage, screening, assessment, in-person crisis intervention and stabilization, and linkage to ongoing support. If clinically indicated, they will also provide transportation for people to county-designated behavioral health sites for further assessment, evaluation, and treatment.
Who We Serve: Anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis in San Mateo County, including adults, older adults, children, youth, and families.
Referral Process: Referrals can be called into San Mateo MCRT 24/7. Call 650-579-0350. Telecare connects with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the police, and 911.
Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Program Type: Crisis
What To Expect When You Get San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team Services
The team and the individual will work on crisis safety planning to help with stabilization and prevent future crises.
If an individual is a grave risk to self or others, team may initiate an involuntary hold (72-hour max).
The team will create a care coordination plan, including linkage to other providers, services, and resources.
The team will provide transportation (if needed).
The team will make sure that there is a warm handoff (a helpful, person-to-person handoff to the next setting or provider).
The team will conduct care coordination follow-up with the individual, within 24 hours.
The San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team will typically arrive on-site within 60-90 minutes of being dispatched.
The team will arrive in a Mobile Crisis Response vehicle. Purple shirt people!
The team will stay on site however long is needed.
The team and individual will talk in an environment that is most comfortable to the client; family or friends may be invited if the individual wishes.
The team will complete a screening and assessment.
The team and individual will work together on intervention and stabilization.
Education & Prevention: How to Help Prevent a Crisis Before It Starts
A crisis can happen to anyone. There is no single definition of crisis. Mine might be different than yours. Our goal today is to make sure you know that there are ways to get support when you (or someone else) is not at their best. Here are just a few things that people might experience as a crisis.
Health issues
Experiencing abuse
Substance use or abuse
Divorce or breakups
Struggles with identity, gender, sexual orientation
Bullying
Grief
Loss of a job
Financial stressors
Housing instability
Chronic pain
MCRT News
Learn About Telecare’s Clinical Approach
Telecare was founded on the belief that rehabilitation and recovery from serious mental illness are possible. We have consolidated our learning and experience into the Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS), a richly personal, holistic, and comprehensive approach to recovery. Learn more about the RCCS by clicking here.
